December 6, 2024 • 7 mins
Jordana Miller joins the WOR Morning Show to talk about the unrest in the middle east. Jordana discusses the news of Syrian insurgents taking over the capital city of Hama.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Jordana Miller, ABC News correspondent lives in Jerusalem. Jordana, we
were just talking about the situation in Syria. It exploded.
I mean, it seems like some piece at least has
come to Israel and to Lebanon, but not in Syria.
I did. It seems like some people must have taken
(00:21):
their eyes off the ball and the rebels took advantage.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I mean, I think we have to understand that after
fourteen months of war between Lebanon and Israel, and even
those strikes that and Israel exchanged, the rebels saw a
moment where the axis, the Iran, Russia, Syria Hasbala axis
(00:48):
was weakened, and it appears, you know, they struck out
of nowhere. I mean, it came as a surprise not
only to US intelligence officials but also Israeli intelligence. And
now Israel is kind of scrambling to figure out exactly
what's happened and what could happen. And the assessment here
(01:12):
is that there is a decent chance that Asad's regime
could fall, that the rebels will make it all the
way to Damascus, and already as a precautionary method, given
how quickly these rebels are advancing Israel, announcing just a
short while ago that they are intensifying and increasing their
(01:35):
troop and aerial presence along the Israel Syrian border in
the north. There because they say they're now ready for anything.
That is in case some of the rebel offensives splits
off and some come on a different route to the
(01:56):
Israel Syrian border. Israel says it is prepared for all
those who thought Israel was behind this offensive and somehow
it's going to help Israel. This is uh, this is
you know, not a good development for the State of Israel.
Right now. The rebels are made up of largely Islamist
(02:20):
extremist groups right breakoffs from ISIS, breakoffs from al Qaida.
I know, though Iran may be a common enemy, these
groups have no love for the State of Israel or Jews,
and they pose a certain added risk because, in an
effort to shore up his regime, a Sad may move
(02:44):
more pro Iranian miss militia's or Iranian uh Iranian fighters
in generals onto Syrian soil, and that, of course is
bad news for Israel.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Georgiana, I have a question. You know, you're so much
closer than we are here in New York. So this
rebel group that is gaining so much ground in Syria
is led by a guy named Aljelanni. He's on the
terrorist list in the West, but he has broken with
ISIS and he has broken with al Qaeda. And when
he and his people move into an area, you know,
(03:17):
the Christians and the sites are all worried about what
could happen because they've seen this movie before, but they've
been sort of relieved that they're not going after these minorities.
You know, he actually said, quote our diversity is our strength,
which is you know, sort of an American politician cliche.
What do you make of that? Is this all just
a ruse? Or is he you know, I had to say,
sound good, but like a new kind of terrorist.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I think, you know, we should we should not take
al Jelani's comments at faith value or really put much
trust in them. He is a ruthless terrorist. He's you know,
he may have split off from ISIS and al CAD
a kind of but that doesn't mean he's going to
(04:02):
create a friendly er quote unquote terrorist group, right. I
mean it may be he may also in the you know,
in the goal of taking territory and controlling it, and
that means also population, right and residents and locals. He
may be putting out this line so that his troops
(04:24):
have a better his troops, his gangs have a better option,
better chance of securing the streets, and you know, and
and you know, establishing their authoritarian rule, and then what
could come later is really anyone's guess. So I don't
I don't think we should put much stake into I know,
(04:47):
these kind of tolerant sentences or proclamations he's put out.
No one should trust. Al Jalani could be strategic.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Hey, you said something interesting, you said and that this
is bad for Israel, that these rebels are anti Israel.
What about America? Are they anti American? Should the US
be involved in this or concerned about it?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
These Islamist extremist groups are anti Western and that includes
being anti American right, because these are groups that believe
in a fundamentalist vision of Islam, which in many ways
is authoritarian, oppressive not only for believers you know, which
(05:37):
include women, you know, but also for even Muslims who
don't keep their their strict understanding of Islam. Those are
also considered heretics, let alone women Christians, Jews, you know, Shias.
(05:57):
So these groups are extra extremely dangerous, they're anti Western,
and there's no reason for the United States not to
be worried. I mean, the United States is clearly worried
by this development. Remember what happened not so long ago
when Isis took over swaths of Syria, right, and you know,
(06:21):
put on out there, and back then it wasn't even
so popular. But now you can imagine can you imagine
on TikTok beheadings? I mean, it's horrifying to think about.
And this is a group that is you know, again,
there is no kind of friendlier version of a terrorist group.
(06:42):
These are groups that are do not believe in democracy
or freedom or you know, equal rights or freedom of
the press or information. You know, they are corrupt authoritarian
regimes that have twisted Islam to their to their perverted uh,
(07:02):
their perverted version of it.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Jor Dana Miller, ABC News correspondent in Jerusalem, just just
really quickly the the fire we just worry about, you
the ceasefires.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Holding, right, Elebanon is holding, and we're beginning to see
what looks like some real momentum to restart God's cease fire. Talks.
Wonderful is expected to send out a delegation to Cairo soon.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Thank you, yeah, Jor Dana Miller.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, Donald Trump, we told you about this moment ago
and now we're going to talk more about it because
he wants us to. Donald Trump wins a big, big award,
as he would say, the biggest award, anything like it.
People were talking about it, and that's what people say.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
You'll hear part of his sir, sir, We've never seen
anything like it.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Sir. You'll hear part of his acceptance speech next
Jordana Miller, ABC News correspondent lives in Jerusalem. Jordana, we
were just talking about the situation in Syria. It exploded.
I mean, it seems like some piece at least has
come to Israel and to Lebanon, but not in Syria.
I did. It seems like some people must have taken
(00:21):
their eyes off the ball and the rebels took advantage.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I mean, I think we have to understand that after
fourteen months of war between Lebanon and Israel, and even
those strikes that and Israel exchanged, the rebels saw a
moment where the axis, the Iran, Russia, Syria Hasbala axis
(00:48):
was weakened, and it appears, you know, they struck out
of nowhere. I mean, it came as a surprise not
only to US intelligence officials but also Israeli intelligence. And
now Israel is kind of scrambling to figure out exactly
what's happened and what could happen. And the assessment here
(01:12):
is that there is a decent chance that Asad's regime
could fall, that the rebels will make it all the
way to Damascus, and already as a precautionary method, given
how quickly these rebels are advancing Israel, announcing just a
short while ago that they are intensifying and increasing their
(01:35):
troop and aerial presence along the Israel Syrian border in
the north. There because they say they're now ready for anything.
That is in case some of the rebel offensives splits
off and some come on a different route to the
(01:56):
Israel Syrian border. Israel says it is prepared for all
those who thought Israel was behind this offensive and somehow
it's going to help Israel. This is uh, this is
you know, not a good development for the State of Israel.
Right now. The rebels are made up of largely Islamist
(02:20):
extremist groups right breakoffs from ISIS, breakoffs from al Qaida.
I know, though Iran may be a common enemy, these
groups have no love for the State of Israel or Jews,
and they pose a certain added risk because, in an
effort to shore up his regime, a Sad may move
(02:44):
more pro Iranian miss militia's or Iranian uh Iranian fighters
in generals onto Syrian soil, and that, of course is
bad news for Israel.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Georgiana, I have a question. You know, you're so much
closer than we are here in New York. So this
rebel group that is gaining so much ground in Syria
is led by a guy named Aljelanni. He's on the
terrorist list in the West, but he has broken with
ISIS and he has broken with al Qaeda. And when
he and his people move into an area, you know,
(03:17):
the Christians and the sites are all worried about what
could happen because they've seen this movie before, but they've
been sort of relieved that they're not going after these minorities.
You know, he actually said, quote our diversity is our strength,
which is you know, sort of an American politician cliche.
What do you make of that? Is this all just
a ruse? Or is he you know, I had to say,
sound good, but like a new kind of terrorist.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I think, you know, we should we should not take
al Jelani's comments at faith value or really put much
trust in them. He is a ruthless terrorist. He's you know,
he may have split off from ISIS and al CAD
a kind of but that doesn't mean he's going to
(04:02):
create a friendly er quote unquote terrorist group, right. I
mean it may be he may also in the you know,
in the goal of taking territory and controlling it, and
that means also population, right and residents and locals. He
may be putting out this line so that his troops
(04:24):
have a better his troops, his gangs have a better option,
better chance of securing the streets, and you know, and
and you know, establishing their authoritarian rule, and then what
could come later is really anyone's guess. So I don't
I don't think we should put much stake into I know,
(04:47):
these kind of tolerant sentences or proclamations he's put out.
No one should trust. Al Jalani could be strategic.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Hey, you said something interesting, you said and that this
is bad for Israel, that these rebels are anti Israel.
What about America? Are they anti American? Should the US
be involved in this or concerned about it?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
These Islamist extremist groups are anti Western and that includes
being anti American right, because these are groups that believe
in a fundamentalist vision of Islam, which in many ways
is authoritarian, oppressive not only for believers you know, which
(05:37):
include women, you know, but also for even Muslims who
don't keep their their strict understanding of Islam. Those are
also considered heretics, let alone women Christians, Jews, you know, Shias.
(05:57):
So these groups are extra extremely dangerous, they're anti Western,
and there's no reason for the United States not to
be worried. I mean, the United States is clearly worried
by this development. Remember what happened not so long ago
when Isis took over swaths of Syria, right, and you know,
(06:21):
put on out there, and back then it wasn't even
so popular. But now you can imagine can you imagine
on TikTok beheadings? I mean, it's horrifying to think about.
And this is a group that is you know, again,
there is no kind of friendlier version of a terrorist group.
(06:42):
These are groups that are do not believe in democracy
or freedom or you know, equal rights or freedom of
the press or information. You know, they are corrupt authoritarian
regimes that have twisted Islam to their to their perverted uh,
(07:02):
their perverted version of it.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Jor Dana Miller, ABC News correspondent in Jerusalem, just just
really quickly the the fire we just worry about, you
the ceasefires.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Holding, right, Elebanon is holding, and we're beginning to see
what looks like some real momentum to restart God's cease fire. Talks.
Wonderful is expected to send out a delegation to Cairo soon.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Thank you, yeah, Jor Dana Miller.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, Donald Trump, we told you about this moment ago
and now we're going to talk more about it because
he wants us to. Donald Trump wins a big, big award,
as he would say, the biggest award, anything like it.
People were talking about it, and that's what people say.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
You'll hear part of his sir, sir, We've never seen
anything like it.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Sir. You'll hear part of his acceptance speech next
Popular Podcasts
Monster: BTK
'Monster: BTK', the newest installment in the 'Monster' franchise, reveals the true story of the Wichita, Kansas serial killer who murdered at least 10 people between 1974 and 1991. Known by the moniker, BTK – Bind Torture Kill, his notoriety was bolstered by the taunting letters he sent to police, and the chilling phone calls he made to media outlets. BTK's identity was finally revealed in 2005 to the shock of his family, his community, and the world. He was the serial killer next door. From Tenderfoot TV & iHeartPodcasts, this is 'Monster: BTK'.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.